Green/Sustainability

Forum Post: Green On Campus

Greg Zimmerman — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:18:00 GMT

As graduations wrap up, and the summer renovation/construction season begins in earnest, check out this article from our May issue about how more and more campuses are recognizing the value of green building:

www.facilitiesnet.com/.../Sustainable-Construction-And-Renovation-On-Campus-Help-Cut-Costs-Attract-Students--13990

Forum Post: New LEED-EBOM Aims To Improve Efficiency

Greg Zimmerman — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:51:00 GMT

The new versions of LEED - LEEDv4 - are on schedule to be released this fall, and there will be many noticeable changes in the new rating systems. In LEED-EBOM, for instance, projects will have to score a minimum of 75 on the Energy Star scale in order to receive any level of certification. This short piece summarizes some of the changes that USGBC hopes will help shift the industry towards far more efficient buildings.

http://www.facilitiesnet.com/green/article/Improved-Energy-Performance-is-One-of-Many-Goals-for-New-LEEDEBOM--13979

Forum Post: 10 Steps To Prepare For Water Impacts Of Climate Change

Ed Sullivan — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:42:00 GMT

The Natural Resources Defense Council and American Rivers have developed a list of 10 "no regrets" water strategies for state governments to adopt as a way of responding as extreme weather events become more common. NRDC says that most states aren't preparing for the impacts of climate change, including water-related impacts of extreme weather. The 10 steps are part of an overall "Water Preparedness Guide for State Action." Not surprisingly, several of those "no regrets" measures deal directly with commercial and institutional buildings. Click here to learn more about the 10 steps to prepare for the water impacts of climate change.

Do you include water measures in your climate change action plans?

Forum Post: Is Your State One of the Top 10 LEED States?

Greg Zimmerman — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:37:00 GMT

The U.S. Green Building Council published a column in the March issue of Building Operating Management explaining a little more about their list of the top 10 LEED states that's been making its rounds on the web. Is your state on the list? Any surprises - either in terms of states that made the list or states that didn't?

www.facilitiesnet.com/.../USGBC-Lists-Top-10-LEED-States-for-2012--13855

Forum Post: Re: Harnessing the Power of the Sun

Doug Aldrich — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:19:00 GMT

Fascinating story about the project and its results. My previous company supplies silicon and it was a pleasure to read how the materials and its arrays can be used successfully. Congrats!

Forum Post: Ask An Expert: LEED-EBOM

Greg Zimmerman — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:00:00 GMT

As you may have heard, LEED is getting a facelift this year. But you shouldn't wait if you're considering a new LEED-EBOM initiative. Throughout the month of March, LEED-EBOM expert Jamie Qualk of SSRCx will answer your LEED-EBOM questions. Please post below.

Forum Post: Recycle Cigarette Butts to Earn Money for Charity

staceykrauss — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:26:00 GMT

Instead of just collecting cigarette butts in indoor and outdoor ashtrays and throwing them away, facilities managers can recycle them to earn money for Keep America Beautiful. Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company partnered with recycling pioneer TerraCycle to launch the Cigarette Waste Brigade, the first cigarette butt recycling program to operate in the US. The free program allows managers to send in tobacco waste for to be recycled. For each pound of waste collected through the Brigade, $1 is donated to Keep America Beautiful.

The building or facility's participation in the Cigarette Waste Brigade is something that can be communicated through posters and fliers available on TerraCycle's website, adding a feel-good, environmental layer to tenants' experience.

Both the Ocean Conservancy and Keep America Beautiful have strong statistics showing cigarette waste is one of the most prevalent forms of litter worldwide, with 65% being improperly discarded. KAB even estimates that 38% of all roadside litter in the US is tobacco-related. But even the butts that are "properly" disposed of are sent to a landfill, where they take up space and can leach chemicals into the ground. Instead, butts recycled with TerraCycle will be pelletized and used to make industrial products like shipping pallets.

The program is ongoing, free to join, and all shipping costs are pre-paid. To sign up or learn more, please visit www.terracycle.com/.../cigarette-waste-brigade.html

Forum Post: Recycle Cigarette Butts to Earn Money for Charity

staceykrauss — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:21:00 GMT

The program is ongoing, free to join, and all shipping costs are pre-paid. To sign up or learn more, please visit www.terracycle.com/.../cigarette-waste-brigade.html

Forum Post: Re: How Are You an "Unconventional FM"?

meg.cox.fd — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 15:56:00 GMT

Now a days, It is important not only to have a solution to track facility management and a solution to track sustainability. FM's are having to do more with less as we all know. I want to mention something that I think is important and creative as well. When something happens in the facility, that is an emergency, and the FM is not on site, what happens? Do they realize it the next morning when they arrive at the facility? Has the problem worsened?.... Here is a story:

www.cbsnews.com/.../freezer-malfunction-thaws-150-brains-at-harvard-research-hospital

Basically, due to a freezer malfunction, one third of the worlds largest collections of autism brain samples were lost.

This could have been prevented with a Critical Alarm solution. With a Critical Alarm in place, the FM would have received a text message or e-mail letting him know that the temperature was not correct in that specific freezer.

Forum Post: Have You Used LEED-CI?

Greg Zimmerman — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:13:00 GMT

You may be surprised to learn you can earn up to 37 points for energy efficiency in LEED-CI - but you can! Have you used the rating system? What surprises/challenges have you come across?

www.facilitiesnet.com/.../How-to-Use-LEEDCI--26232

Forum Post: Re: Submit Your Questions About LEED-EBOM

Tristan Roberts — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:25:00 GMT

Thanks, Greg! Good to be on the forum. Feel free to hit me up with any LEED-EBOM certification questions. The link embedded there takes you to LEEDuser's credit-by-credit guidance on LEED-EBOM, which is a great resource, and one that I moderate. Post your questions here, and read LEEDuser—and we'll get you the help you need.

Forum Post: LEED Gold Lab: Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation

Ed Sullivan — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:56:00 GMT

The new South Florida Water Management District lab has an array of energy efficiency and water conservation measures. But the project is also a good example of the importance of good project management techniques, including effective quality control. Check out why the LEED-certified lab offers lessons in efficiency and project management.

Forum Post: The Emerging Sustainability Executive

Greg Zimmerman — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:38:00 GMT

Our December cover story looks at an emerging trend: passionate, progressive executives whose job is to set the sustainability agenda for their organizations. While there's no rhyme or reason to the background (sometimes FM, sometimes not) or education of these folks, they're often promoted from within their own organization. That's because intimate knowledge of how an organization runs, and its goals and priorities, are key to sustainability success.

www.facilitiesnet.com/.../Facility-Managers-Are-Among-The-Passionate-Progressive-Executives-Setting-The-Sustainability-Agenda--13656

Does your organization have a sustainability executive (with a title like Chief Sustainability Officer or VP of Sustainability)? Where in the organization does this person reside (facilities, operations, HR, its own department)?

Forum Post: Installed Cost Of Solar Power Systems Continues To Fall Rapidly

Ed Sullivan — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:38:00 GMT

A study by the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley Labs reports that the installed cost of solar photovoltaic systems continues to fall rapidly. The biggest reason is that the PV modules have become much less expensive. But other costs, including installation, are also falling. In 2011, the average cost was $4.90 for larger commercial systems of 100 kW or more in size, but prices have continued to fall since then and systems today are being sold for less. Click here for more information about the falling costs for installing solar photovoltaic systems.

Forum Post: Re: Ask An Energy Star Expert

martinsharrisjr — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:25:00 GMT

I'm looking for design-heat-loss-per-SF for new and properly designed and constructed buildings in various degree-day zones. Year ago, in the 9000 DD zone, I used 20 BTU/SF/hr.

martinharris@embarqmail.com

Forum Post: Re: How To Save Irrigation Water

Greg Zimmerman — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:26:00 GMT

Fascinating answer - thanks, Fernando!

Forum Post: Robert Francis: Professor of Green

Greg Zimmerman — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:25:00 GMT

Meet Drexel University's vice president of facilities, Robert Francis. Francis is helming efforts at the Philadelphia school to buy all its electricity in wind RECs and to certify every square foot of new space built with the Green Globes rating system. You might say he takes pleasure in taking the road less traveled.

Here's his story: www.facilitiesnet.com/.../Robert-Francis-Focuses-on-Sustainability-Amid-Drexel-University39s-Massive-Growth--13439

What are some FM strategies or techniques you've successfully employed that defy convention?

Forum Post: Re: Ask a LEED-EBOM Expert

Sean Heffernan — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 15:55:00 GMT

Charlie - How can the incorporation of plants and Living Green Walls benefit buildings in achieving LEED-EBOM status?

Forum Post: Ask a Water Efficiency Expert

Naomi Millán — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:09:00 GMT

Troy Aichele, principal with Aichele and Associates, will answer your water efficiency questions for the May installment of Ask An Expert. Troy will answer questions posted on this thread by April 12. Please post your questions below.

Forum Post: Re: Looking for Green Tips

AdamAtZep — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:45:00 GMT

A lot of people probably overlook greener/more efficient cleaning chemicals as a means to meet preferences under LEED certification, particularly in portion control. We introduced a closed-loop dispenser last year that uses environmentally preferable (and 3^rd party substantiated) ingredients and eliminates employee exposure to chemicals. As is the case with most portion-control systems, because you always mix the precise dilution you're also cutting back on storage of "ready to use" bottles and you’re eliminating waste. We’d love it if you invested in our product but it certainly isn’t the only one on the market.

Check out Safe2Dose for info on our dispenser. Google "Chemical Dispenser" or "Chemical Dilution Systems" for others. Good luck!